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As globalization picked up the pace, the manufacturing sector saw the market change drastically with the lights-out phenomenon being talked of
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Manufacturing today stands at the confluence of innovation and technology, with recent considerable progress in industrial automation. Technology's influence on modern manufacturing is like never before. Production has been revolutionised by technological advancements that saw automation taking over and complex machinery coming into use.
As it gave rise to competition, the spread of technology has only improved across the industry. The overall gains were seen to rise when innovative practices and new-age sustainable materials like Aluminium were introduced as part of manufacturing innovations. As globalization picked up the pace, the manufacturing sector saw the market change drastically with the lights-out phenomenon being talked of.
Robotics & more
Lights-out manufacturing is where industrial robots take over from humans in production. While the lights are not yet fully out, robots are a part of the industry as automation in manufacturing grows. It has become a reality due to an unstoppable innovation in automation, in whose success downstream aluminium products have an essential role to play. Aluminium offers versatile use in both the hi-tech manufacturing process and part of an end product emerging through an automated process.
The growing acceptance of Aluminium has helped propel the manufacturing sector's push for automation. As the use of robotics ensured that production output increased, businesses became competitive, operating costs went down, and efficiency increased. Throughout this journey, Aluminium has emerged as a top metal of choice for the manufacturing industry. Be it the automotive sector, electronics manufacturing, medicine, construction, or packaging industry, the use of downstream aluminium products in the sector's automation is there to be seen.
Its non-corrosive nature, strength quality, low-density, non-toxic nature make it a preferred choice over other metals. Especially when it comes to industrial robots, aluminium scores as a structural metal of choice. Given its malleable and ductile properties, Aluminium offers the possibility of polishing it as well. Automation is, however, more than just industrial robots being used. It is also about everything beginning from thermostats, oil regulators, vibration sensing equipment, infra-red devices, conveyor belt systems etc, coming together to being more productive. And not surprisingly, Aluminium plays a role in respective systems offering casing equipment, profile sections and such uses.
Innovation & Aluminium
Aluminium is a material of the future and, as discussed earlier, is a very malleable metal. In other words, Aluminium can be made to take any form so desired or mixed with other metals to create a strong alloy offering higher performance. The rapid-paced on-going innovations only mean that Aluminium can bring to life designs and provide appropriate solutions. The construction industry is one place where Aluminium's properties and futuristic design of sections become possible due to innovation and automation in manufacturing techniques of fenestration material.
In the manufacturing sector, automation needs to overcome the challenges of ensuring precision and offering a high tolerance for measurements. In making sure that there are no changes to sizes during the manufacturing process, tool and jig plates cast in Aluminium do the trick. Aluminium extrusions have discovered their true value in the creation of automation in the manufacturing world.
Another area that highlights the combination of automation and the use of Aluminium has shown huge benefits is the automotive sector. Here the advent of fuel-efficient vehicles and electric-powered automobiles has been possible due to continuous innovations in the field. It has resulted in improved road-holding of these vehicles, much better shock absorption possibility and a higher rate of passenger safety. With Aluminium as an important ingredient, automation and innovation have helped manufacture vehicles that come with a smaller environmental footprint.
To ensure they survive and stay relevant, the manufacturing industry must be focused on continuous innovation through R&D. As automation in manufacturing upgrades; there is a change through innovation. The overall focus of the manufacturing industry should be to develop new insights, models and capabilities using Aluminium. As we move to the next level of automation in manufacturing capabilities, there will be a disruption involving more unique innovation processes.
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